Process of making relief maps



Feb. 6, 1940. B, v, PERERA 2,189,592

PROCESS 0F MAKINGy RELIEF MAPS Filed Maron 11, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 @MC-Aim @www Febo 6, 1940. B, V, PERVERA 2,189,592y

PROCESS OF MAKING RELIEF MAPS Filed March 11, 1957' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "T4: e 3mm Patented Feb. k1940 UNITED STATES .PATENT ori-ica PRoCEss or MAKING RELIEF MAPS Banmnuarchigel Victor Perera, Ipoh, Perak,

Federated Malay States- Applicaiiqn Mal-eh 11, 1937, serial No. 130,295

1 claim. (o1. srs-41) 'This invention relates to process of making relief maps. f

The principal object of this invention relates to the construction of -a relief map from a given 5 flat' contour map which shall have the same degree ofaccuracy and show all the details furnished on said contour map; by building` the relief mapl of 4superposed layers of a material such Yas cardboard, eachlayer conforming in shape to vthe outline-of a given elevation on said contour map, the number of layers or height of the relief 'map corresponding to the number of increments in elevation given on the contour map. Y IAnother object of this invention 4relates to the simplified process of making the relief map which may be followed by any average person to produce a relief map of great accuracy and detail with a minimum of time, effort and expense.

Other objects of this invention relate to making the relief map light, portable and unbreakable; and to permit the construction of large relief maps in sections with the maintenance of the same degree of accuracy and detail.

Referring to the drawings:

may also be a flat contour` map and showing the contour lines and river lines.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a relief map of the contour shown in Figure 1 taken on Vline 2 2, thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail plan vview illustrating a phase in the formation of the relief map.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view taken on line 4-4, Figure 3.

In order to construct a relief map of a given locality reference must `be had to a topographic map upon which are drawn the contour and other natural and artificial features of the ter-v rain represented. This topographic or master map must show the contour lines each designated by its proper elevation or altitude in feet.` In Figure 1 there is shown a selected portion of a typical form of topographic map which portion in the shape of a square is defined by ruled lines on the mapl proper, wherein the lowest contour line is for an elevation of 300 feet and the highest contour line is for an elevation 1650 feet. It will also be noticed that the contour lines are given for increments of 50 feet in elevation. The map also shows the rivers indicated by lines designated R crossing the contour lines.

In making a relief map from the selected square portion of the contour map shown in Figure l, it is first necessary to decide the scale of the relief map with reference to the scale of Figure 1 shows in plan a relief map which l thereon of the superposed contour layers.

the contour map. In the contour map of Figure 1, the scalefis that of six inches to a mile, and

the area covered by the contour map is one square mile. While the relief map may be made in any desired scale the simplest is to make the same of the same scale as that of the contour map. Obviously theselected portion of the contour map may be defined by ruled lines thereon to produce any desired shape, polygonal or otherwise. Again referring to Figure 1, it will be noted that the extent in elevation from the 300 to the 1650 foot ylevels comprises twenty-nine 50 footl increments. There will thus be required twenty-nine plus one base layer, or thirty layers to construct the relief map. These layers must be fiat, of

any suitable material such as card-board, fibre, rubber compound, etc., and of like and uniform thickness, and each six inches square. Preferably the layers should be inch or 1/8 inch in thickness.

To maintain the assembly of the layers to be hereinafter described, there is provided a square frame A, shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, provided with a removable bottom B and in which the sides of the frame are preferably made separable to facilitate removal of the completed model.

With the frame A assembled the base layer A is placed on the bottom B for the placement Each contour layer is made in the following manner Starting first with the lowest contour, a tracing is made of both the 300 foot contour and the 350 to a layer with the 300 foot contour in a solidv line and the 350 foot contour in a dotted line, the layer being then accurately cut along the 300 foot contour'line. This layer indicated by b is then glued or bonded to the base layer a in its proper position relative thereto. The next contour line tracing is made on the 350 foot contour line and the 400 foot contour line is traced in a dotted line. 'I'his second tracing when transferred to another layer which layer when cut along the solid line constitutes the layer c is similarly secured to the layer b, the position thereof being determined by the dotted 350 foot contour line on the layer b. It is to be understood that at the same time there are traced and transferred to the layers by and c, all river lines that now between the contour lines. s

In a like manner as described above the layers d, e and f are patterned to conform with the respective 400, 450 and 500 foot contour lines.

Figurey 3 shows in plan, superposed layers aj foot contour, this tracing being then transferred ,v

b, c, d, e and f with layer f uppermost, and showing the same, cut on the 500 foot contour line and also showing the dotted 550 foot contour line for locating the layer g to be placed thereabove, see Figures 1 and 2. The remaining layers are similarly patterned and are glued or bonded to each other to form a unitary solid model or relief map. The edges or corners of the layers are to be cut or smoothed down to the dotted line shape, see Figure 4 in anysuitable manner to assume the undulating or rough outline shown in the section, Figure 2 in accordance with the topographic details of the terrain shown. The river lines R, as traced on the layers are initially-deeplygrooved or impressed with a suitable tool so as not to be obliterated by the smoothing down` of the `edges and corners of the layers whereby to clearly show up in the finished model.

All other details such as contour line values, towns, names of towns, forests, lakes, roads, transmission lines, etc., .may then be suitably depicted in their properrelationship onthe, completed relief map .which .also may be suitably Y.painted in colorsandvarniShed.

It is obvious that a' largerelief mapcf anysize and scale maybek madein sections, as abovedescribed, and, readily, assembled and disassembled.

These reliefk maps by virtue of. theiry durable construction, ease ,of handling, great ,accuracy and ldetail, provide in a; simpleand ecient mannerr a .use thereof of immense value to war offices, engineering rms, Asurvey oflices, technical `schools, planters, miners and others who are in any Way concerned-with this subject.

While the method ofprocedure has beendescribed inits simp1est=-and preferredforms, it is susceptible of 4VariousI other modifications within `the scope of the invention.

vsame shape and size as dened by said polygonal portion said contour lines, the contour line of one elevation being rmade solid and the line representing the next highest elevation dotted; third, 15

cutting said layer along said solid contour line; fourth, attaching as by glueing or bonding said :layer to a rigid base layer equal in shape and size to said polygonal portion; fth, repeating the transfer of each subsequently higher contour line 20 bythe same method ets-indicated. tofalikeshaped layer and cutting the outline thereof thereoniand g-.superposing the same on. each other in corre- -sponding relationship tothe contour-lineson the `contour map, the dotted lineson -a-flowerlayer 5 .serving to properly indicate the position of the layer superposed thereon; sixth, assembling. said .layers'and-unitingthem.together and to said ybase .layerwithin anassembly frametted to said baselayer surrounding the sides thereoffseventhfw rremoving said frame; eighth, ,smoothing and rounding 'the edges of `the-1supcrposed layersto produce an irregular surface corresponding to the 'topography of theterrain to be indicated; and,

ninth, applyingfa protective and decorative-cover- *t5 ing tofsaidlsurface.

BAMU'NUARCHIGE VICTOR PEREIRA. 

